Realty One

Friday, January 15, 2016

ROUGHRIDERS RELEASE CHICK AND DRESSLER **WITH CHRIS JONES QUOTES**

The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced today international defensive end John Chick and international receiver Weston Dressler have been released by the team.

“Decisions like these are never easy but we felt it was necessary in order for us to move forward and better position ourselves as a football team,” stated Roughriders vice president of football operations, general manager and head coach, Chris Jones. “We spoke with each player and their respective agents at length in an attempt to negotiate more cap friendly contracts but unfortunately could not reach satisfactory agreements.”

Chick spent six seasons with the Riders after originally joining the team in 2007. After winning the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2009, Chick embarked on a three year NFL career. He returned to the Green and White in 2013 where he spent the next three seasons. Chick ranks fourth in Riders all-time quarterback sacks with 53. He is a two-time Grey Cup champion having won in 2007 and 2013.

Dressler joined the Riders in 2008 and went on to win the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie award. Through eight seasons Dressler surpassed the 1,000 yard receiving mark five times. He sits third in Riders all-time receiving yards with 7,797 and fifth in all-time receiving touchdowns with 50. He won his first career Grey Cup in 2013.

“We want to thank John and Weston for all that they have done for the Roughriders and the province of Saskatchewan,” added Jones. “We wish them both the best of luck.”

CHRIS JONES CONFERENCE CALL NOTES

- It's never easy with good long-standing citizens in the CFL such as these. But they were all tied to salary.

- We took as long as we could. There's things that happened along the way and we had to exhaust every effort to see if we could trade or get something for our team in return. We exhausted everything we could do, we talked to the agents, and we couldn't get them to come to where we could afford them. It was basic economics.

- They were due roster bonuses in the coming days.

- You have to take (fans' reaction) into consideration but when it comes down to it, you have a team to run. We've never won any championships with only one or two guys. You have to worry about the complete good of the football team.

- I don't want to shut the door on anything. They are two really great players and had they been able to agree to the terms that we needed, we were willing to listen to and look at that idea but as of right now it wasn't going to fit what we're doing financially.

- I don't want to start speculating on anybody else. This isn't something fun for me today. It's kind of a bad day to make this release. It's a necessary evil.

- This is what we get paid to do -- to go out and find football players. Will we find players exactly like them? Likely not. They're unique in their qualities but we can find players that we can line up and win with.

- We've spoken with their agents and via text with John. I'm sure for them it's never easy to leave somewhere especially when they're as connected as they are.

- They were making a lot of money for the CFL and I won't get into the numbers but it was something we couldn't afford.

- Don Mathews experienced this in Montreal when he took over and we had this in Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton. Different guys had to not be there and unfortunately that's the business we chose to be in.

- We're not worried about sending messages or anything like that. We're trying to put together the best team we can win with within the salary cap.

- The Maurice Price deal was totally separate from this. He's a great player and I don't want to talk about any other player. Let's make this completely about John and Weston today.

- I'm not gonna talk about Darian. I'm not gonna talk about anyone that's on our roster or anybody we could potentially sign. We'll keep this about these two guys today.

- Father Time catches up with everybody and Weston's not getting any younger. He was still very dynamic last year and somebody you had to be aware of at all times.

- There was an abundance of leadership that we lost today but everywhere I've been, there's always been somebody that was willing to step up and fill that void.

Wow! Tough choice but necessary. Both getting older and we can't keep these guys just because of what they did in the past. We need to get better, younger and cheaper. Hopefully, this means the re-signing of a guy like Smith or another free agent.

Last big-name coach who took on GM duties was Chip Kelly down south to less-than-stellar results...hope we don't have a similar fate. Although he started with good and make it horrible...hard to make us more horrible than we were :)

Crazy! I'm guessing that their contracts must have been really high coming into this year as neither was yet bad on the field. That being said in the long run if the Riders planned on keeping only Smith or Dressler at this point I'd have to give a nod to no. 2. He still has upside whereas Dressler is at or starting to move past his peak.

Thanks to both guys and while it's going to be weird to see them in other uniforms I hope they still have several productive years each.

I'd venture at Dressler landing in Winnipeg and Chick in Calgary myself.

Almost everyone is being asked to renegotiate cap friendly contracts. I wonder if DD has been asked the same question? If there is anyone on the team that needs a cap friendly contract, it is him. Two serious injuries in the past two years, plus we don't even know if he will be able to play this coming season. In my opinion, DD makes too much for what he is worth. Losing Chick and Dressler is really tough because they are leaders in the dressing room, plus play hard on every play. Not like quite a few players currently on the team.

Incredibly disappointed ... but I understand the football business reasons as to why. Great character guys and plaza-worthy for sure. I can't imagine them in anything but green.

I remember a couple years back John was in our community for an event. I had a chance to observe him talking to a little guy who had been recently diagnosed as a diabetic. He took a good amount of time to sit with the kid and share with him his thoughts and advice on living with diabetes and that you can live a great life if you take care of yourself. This kid went from tears and fear to hope and smiles after a few minutes with his football hero. A touching moment for sure.

I've heard there's an option to negotiate contracts in US$. If that's the case with these two, a couple of steep but manageable contracts may have reached a tipping point. That's no good for either party here.

Sad to see these two go. All the best to two of the best. Skill, work ethic, and class.

If people thought last year was long, 2016 could be even longer. Doesn't make any sense to me, get rid of 20 odd players and bring in a totally new management/coaching team. A guy wins a Grey Cup and thinks he is invincible. Isn't this picture familiar? Can you compare Price and Dressler? Even without an offense, Dressler almost gets 1000 yards.

Terrius was invisible and we re-sign him. Hope the fans hang around for at least the first year of the new stadium. Hope this is not another John Herra era.

Jones is removing the 'cap issues' he inherited from Brendan Taman. Remember this is the same Chris Jones that cut Fred Stamps last year and Stamps went to Montreal to do very little.

In all honesty, Chick and Dressler are both in their thirties and both had less 'spark' after returning from their NFL tour. You want young imports that are hungry and still believe they may still get to the NFL.

Regardless where Chick or Dressler end up, they will need to take less than they are making now. They will likely end up playing elsewhere for what they were offered here. It looks like probably their egos got in the way a bit. And they were also listening to some of the "know-nothings" who seem to think that you should get more money based on seniority and advancing age. You know a lot like a government job where value is based solely on seniority. Taman and crew had so much money tied up in a few players that they had to get by with cheap retreads. Players who didn't bring much value in their play. You can't upgrade all areas when you don't have the money to do it. I'm sure we all think we're worth more than we're making and that's natural. To think your worth 50-75K more than a guy younger with similar stats is perhaps all ego. Jones inherited a mess created by previous executives and managers. Some day the piper had to be paid and that began when this new management came in . Bravo….good on them.

Bet Weston wishes he signed with redblacks now, would have won another cup and be swimming in the money. It does show how much he wanted to be here but not taking a team friendly deal. Whoever wears 7 next year will have a lot of fans. Watch for him to end up in Hamilton... You read it here first!

Rider Nation, take a breath, count to ten, then remove your heads from you backsides!!!!!!

I know you are all about loyalty and seniority, but this is pro football, and those two things have no value in this business. The team will be younger, bigger, faster and BETTER in 2016 and for many years to come.Remember when Jurisan was cut? The morons of the Nation lost the collective seven brain cells they had between them they were so upset. Then Truluk had three sacks in the season opener, Jurisan played one or two more games and we all moved on. The Riders future was not with Chick or Dressler.Go to the store, buy a jersey to replace your #97 and #7 shirts, shut your stupid mouths, breathe through your nose and shut up about Jones and Murphy. They will be leading us to greatness shortly.

I was devastated when Chick and Dressler made the choice of going to the NFL and leaving our Riders behind.

I am now devastated that Chick and Dressler choose to say NO to a lower salary and instead leave the Riders.

In both situations I respect the decisions of these special players to look after their financial situation, as a players career is short and not always sweet.

I also respect and understand the decision of Rider management to restructure and be in a position to be a player in the upcoming free agency period. An aging team from 2013 is getting younger for 2016.

I hope, like after the Eskimos let fan favourite Fred Stamps move on, a dynamic new young receiver like Walker will emerge.

The "goof balls" who are saying they don't trust Jones etc are the ones who must saying they trusted Taman and crew, and the at 3-15 attached to them. That must be the level of success those losers like. Probably in the own lives as well. Everyone knew of the back loaded contracts they handed out like kool-aid. Now someone else has to fix their mess.

Chick was not overly productive or effective last season. Yet an young Jeff Knox Jr was on the same crappy defence Chick played on. Dressler played disinterested most of last season. However they were both wanting the big bonuses Taman had handed them. They weren't willing to take less to be a part of this scene. They are mercenaries like everyone else. They are no more to this team than the hundred of others who have passed through.

it was obvious when the new regime started that the 4 highest paid on the Riders, Durant, Getzlaf, Dressler and Chick had to be renegotiated. Funny part is that aside from Durant, the latter three had average years, and getting up in age.Also interesting that they couldn't get any trades. What does that tell you??? The other point is that last fall Oday mentioned that they couldn't bid on a lot of NFL cuts due to salary cap issues. Again, what does that tell you. Sad to see these two future plaza of Honor players go, but all good things must come to an end. Best to John and Weston, and thank you for all the great years. What are the odds they play one more year somewhere else, and I'll bet at a lower salary.

Thank you very much, Jones and Murphy. You came to town and have blown up our team. Took away our heart and soul. You cannot replace Dressler with Mo Price, who averages less than 600 yards a year and had only one TD last year. Dressler had almost 1000 yards with backup QBs. I heard several media guys say last year that Lemon is the most overrated player in the CFL. Hard to argue with. Check out his stats. The Riders will look like an expansion team next season; running around signing second rate players that have bounced around and never found a team interested in keeping them long term. Greg Marshall's career ended here. Chamblin's career ended here. I can't wait for Jones career to end here.

I spoke with all my friends who are Rider fans and to a man (and woman) they are of the view that today's move, while tough emotionally, was the right one to make for the team's future given the player's decision to decline new lower cost contracts. Most Rider fans are sophisticated enough to understand the reality of the salary cap in forcing tough decisions.

Wins and losses aren't obtained in the off-season. Let mgmt do their jobs. They are accountable to the Riders and the province just like a CEO is to their shareholders. If they don't perform you can cut them lose but until there is a performance to evaluate, relax. There are a number of instances where "great" players or even legends have been cut. This is not the first regime to do it in the CFL. Guess what it won't be the last one either. Look at any other leagues, this happens too. Who would have ever thought Indy would ever let Manning go? A guy like Montana got traded, what? (Yes I know there was Steve Young as insurance). Brodeur in NJ, Iginla in Calgary (yes they got "assets" back). The point is tough decisions need to be made sometimes.

As fans I would guess many of us support what the salary cap has done for the league. In any year most of the 9 teams will have a good chance of winning the Grey Cup since so many make the "anything can happen" playoffs. I prefer the salary cap era and tough decisions like these to let some stars go, it sure beats watching one team be a perennial powerhouse year in and year out. Finally, it is very possible both these players have a few good years left and might even torch us in games against the Riders, but it's a gamble we have to take to continually improve and try to stay ahead of your opponents, because after last year we were left eating everyone's dust!

Most Rider fans should check out the players being brought in. You normally get what you pay for. If that is any indication of what the team will look like, we are in big trouble and hard times. Sophisticated!! Let's see how sophisticated you sound next November after a 2 and 16 season. That is what we appear to be headed for. And Jones has ben called a lot of things; sophisticated is not one of them.

What's happening now is what Taman should have done after the 2013 season. He didn't have the intelligence or vision to do anything except overpay old declining vets. He backloaded contracts so that he could "buy" his 2013 GC team. Instead of doing the right thing and rebuilding right away he decided that it was easier to "go along to get along" which has been the sop in Riderville for years. Taman and the previous CEO were the ones to blame. The real a__holes are the ones trying to blame competent people who are correcting the work of the incompetents.

The great Don Matthews and to a large extent Jim Popp, Hufnagel, Buono etc all have a history of cutting loose players and bringing in new young talent. Jeff Knox Jr was our only defensive star which tells more than the dumb a__es will ever understand.

It's refreshing to get rid of the old boys mentality that has crippled this franchise for years. Its why we have been relatively unsuccessful in winning in Saskatchewan. It's why we can never build ongoing success. Win a Grey Cup and wait close to 20 years until it happens again. That suits some of the old guard just fine. They would rather sign and overpay someone for what he did in the past. Lets overpay for an older lineman and receiver, then go out and find how may Geoff Tisdales we can find. It will be all we can afford. There have been some really bad contracts signed. With a four year deal in his pocket Taman, O'Day and the coaches didn't have to do a damned thing. They didn't!

Ridiculous overpaid contracts doled out like free candy to a baby by the previous regime of Hopson and his lackeys Taman, O'Day, Chamblin now at the forefront of the league imposed salary cap. The transactions of day in riderville speak volumes of the past regimes glaring ineptitude to know any better of the team's long term future. Now the simpletons whine and cry, how pathetic they don't understand, or incapable of understanding professional sports and it's logistics to the rules and regulations.

Everyone is blaming Mgmt but riddle me this. If Chick and Dressler are such team 1st guys, why didn't they take a cut to stay. They're both stupid to think they are going to get the same $$ any where else they go. Remember the Riders tried to trade them so they could keep there contracts and not 1 team bit. Shame on them for thinking they're bigger than the team.

C'mon people. Nfl does it nhl does it. Taman should be ashamed at how he structured these contracts. We have tones of room now to sign players. If heenan were to come back who would dole out 230 or so for him. The cfl is at a point where they were in. The 80s and 90s. Teams paying too much for players and for what bringing down the league. Chick and dressier were good players 2 years ago. Time to get young again. Getslaf is another. Guy who is going to be on another team. We might as well get used to it.

As an Eskimos fan I know this is a huge blow to ur riders but I truly believe it's all in the best interest of the team they had to shed salaries in order to rebuild and get a fresh start.I do believe tho that if DD wasn't hurt past two years riders fans wouldn't be talking about this story because I believe they would have had winning seasons and taman and chambkin would still be here .The only reason dressler had low numbers last two seasons is only be there was not solid ab throwing him the ball.The rumours I'm hearing that if DD doesn't take a pay cut he will be gone and Trevor Harris brought in to start here

When we wake up in the morning, the Riders will have put out a release saying Steve Harvey actually wrote the other one and in truth those who were released were Alex Carroll and Brandon Tennant and all will be good. Please for the love of god make that happen!

So very funny everyone can make rude comments and judge ppl while hiding behind the name 'anonymous'. At least the coach isnt hiding. He has to take risks and try to win and will lose his job otherwise. But everyone with an opinion can come on here and attack him while hiding their name...fair???

To the Eskie fan anon. Well said and well written. You understand the logistics very well. its a business and if they were not willing to take a paycut,well see ya!! I am sad but not entirely surprised and neither should anyone that has any proper football smarts. #7 and #97 brought heart and soul and a ton of class to this team. All the best wherever you may land!! Darren

After a 3 win season, it is no surprise that the roster needed to be picked apart and the salary structure changed. The 2016 team is going to be a fresh start and a way for us fans to move beyond the nightmare season on 2015.

Good on you Chris Jones for cleaning up Brendan Taman's mess. A year ago I was one of the guys questioning everything Taman/Chamblin did, heck I even second guessed that pair in 2013 and the truth of matter is if DD's fumble doesn't land in Cory Sheets' hands it's a different game. I questioned Taman and Chamblin since day one but I'm still confident in Jones/Murphy, however I wish O'Day was elsewhere. It'll take a long time and consecutive Grey Cups before I'm an O'Day fan.

Trevor Harris is rumoured to have NFL interest. If that is the case, he will not end up here. Dressler did not have low numbers last year; he came very close to the 1000 yard mark. Up to this point, they are not bringing in young, exciting talent. Mo Price is 30 and not exciting; over the last four years he has averaged less than 600 yards. Last year 602 yards and 1 TD. Shawn Lemon is not good, exciting or young. The DE signed a few weeks ago is 29 and has bounced around the CFL and NFL, never finding a home. The average age of grey cup winning QBs is 33. Do you really think they can get Trevor Harris for any less money than Doubles? Check out the facts. I think the one being overpaid is Jones.

As per the runoured tampering that takes place in the CFL. This is me thinking out loud ONLY, lol.

Chick and Dressler had received calls hinting they might get better offers than what the Riders want them to accept pay cut wise. They are not too old that no other teams are interested in them.

Yes Doubles and LaBatte will be next, one of them may have contract renegotiated and we may not hear about it. If anyone thinks that Heenan or Jones come free from the NFL and we are going to throw big bucks at them, give your head a shake.

Doesnt take much to be in the whiners plaza of honour ,as long as you have one good year seems like everybody gets in ,not like any other REAL teams where you have to earn the right to get in after a long ,long outstanding career lasting more than one year like it is in loserville home of the sliders

I just love reading the comments..especially from the ones who are adamant regarding the firing of Chris Jones and Murphy!! The Riders should actually consider hiring these ppl because they sure no what is best for the team. HILARIOUS!!!

For the most part of last season the Riders had good numbers offensively with Glenn delivering the ball. Dressler's numbers are right where he was supposed to be. Durant had little to do with his numbers. He was also beginning to drop more passes, give up on plays and lose a step. A key drop cost a game last season, so he was what he was. For 3/4 of a season Chick did nothing in the way of sacks and was hardly noticeable all season. Coming off a 3-15 season players who think they should get big bonuses and pay raises better think again. Nobody else was willing to pay either or they would have been traded. Some fools would have us hang on to players until they need walkers to get up and down the field. It's a business not a mutual admiration society.

The same crew who try to say with DD at the helm everything would have been good are fools. The defence was still bad and he could have only masked so much. Tying up 25-30% of your payroll on a few guys can be disastrous. Rielly wasn't getting DD type salary but he led his team to a GC. Bo Levi Mitchell doesn't either and his team won the year before. For two years now DD has been paid 400K each season while injured. What's DD going to bring this season? If Dressler needed DD to help him get better numbers, someone's missing the boat. Is anyone daft enough to think he can go to Winnipeg with the team and QB's they have there and he's going to put up big numbers while playing for less money than here.

For two long we've glorified and over paid certain players because we couldn't win championships. We have been a .500 club for decades and that seems to be just fine with some. In the past five years we have one a GC and been dismal the other four, missing the playoffs two times in those five years. Little wonder we can progress with back 40 mentality the lunatic fringe have.

This one hurts, Rod. These are still elite level players who sell tickets and sell jerseys. Honorable relationships with players seem to be to be an important building block for success. I guess Chris Jones is setting a tone. Forget loyalty, forget everything, those things now have no meaning. It's about assembling pieces and winning. Period.

Great if you win but when you have a bad season well the fans no longer have incentive to support the team because their is not connection to the interchangeable player personnel.

I mean, these are two great players till producing. Imagine Westons numbers if DD is healthy. Chick still had 12 sacks even with no inside rush. Since when did 12 sacks become something you don't even bother with? It's like when Gretzky started scoring 50 instead of 70 and people saying 'ah, Wayn'e lost it.'

I know Jones feels like he needs his stamp on the team, but this was a bush move. It really was.

Packers have won a SB since, and bringing in Favre settle Jets and Vikings back years.

Sure Favre could still play, but his productive time was remaining was limited, his salary too large and it was time to move on.

Same deal with Peyton Manning and the Colts, an opportunity came to ensure the team would be competitive after Manning was gone and the Colts went for it. Not so great results in 2015, but they still have a future.

Manning and Favre could both still play when they were let go, but consistently competitive organizations make smart moves to ensure prosperity.

This was not a bush move, it was a smart business and football move. Of course an idiot can't understand that anday makes a pathetic appeal to emotion, but being stupid isn't a crime. Should be, but it's not.

Born and raised on a farm west of Edmonton. Been a rider fan my whole life since the days of Lancaster and Reed . Everyone wants to be a rider. This team has always had an attraction for franchise players that also bring so much to the community. I feel now the times are about to change with this Jones character. One year player contracts with basically a team of rented mules. Jersey sales will simply be a green jersey with no number .